The brief
A commercial diver wanted his work on his arm without a single anchor cliche. We gave him the god of the whole ocean instead — Neptune mid-swell, trident following the deltoid's curve so the figure moves when he does.
The challenge was density: a half sleeve needs to read from across the street but reward a close look. Heavy outer blacks carry the silhouette; the interior stays open with whip-shaded currents and negative-space foam.
- Artist
- Marcus Reed
- Style
- Mythic blackwork
- Sessions
- 4 half-days over 3 months
- Placement
- Shoulder to elbow
- Healed
- Photographed at 8 months
How it was built
01
Anatomy first
Full-arm photos and a clay-shoulder sketch session to map how the trident wraps.
02
Silhouette
Session one laid every outer black in a single pass for consistent saturation.
03
Interior
Two sessions of whip shading, currents and foam — the detail layer.
04
Settle
Session four tightened edges after healing and balanced the contrast.
